Direct democracy occurs when citizens participate directly in policy-making, most commonly through referenda and initiatives. Some perennial concerns regarding direct democracy are voters’ knowledge or access to information; the role of money; how the outcomes are translated into policy; and whether democracy aids majority or minority interests.[1] Supporters of direct democracy often fall along arguments that, by and large, direct democracy engenders greater political engagement and participation and, hence, is more representative and democratic.[2] Critics charge that direct democracy typifies majoritarian rule which often fails to accommodate and may even discriminate against minority interests.[3] On balance, studies find that the evidence generally falls on the side that minority rights needs protection against the processes of direct democracy.[4] Indeed, Donovan (2013) finds pronounced “stereotypes and negative affect” in information campaigns leading-up to direct democracy ballots (1731). [5]

However, the ease of initiating a referendum also led the same-sex marriage issue to be put to a plebiscite. In this regard, by failing to put in safeguards on the referendum process, the government has complicated its policy-making process and responsibility.